A couple of weeks ago, I found a non-ebay online auction lot, that I found pretty interesting. And, over the following days, I would go back and see how the bidding was going.

After registering for the auction, I placed a bid, and went back to business at hand.

At the end of the first week, I was the high bidder, and actually the only bidder. As we got closer to the auction close, a few more bids were placed, but I was still in the lead.

My initial bid was not particularly high, but obviously higher than others that had also seen the auction.

With about 8 hours until the auction close, and knowing that there were 8 other bids, I went back to the auction lot, and upped my bid quite a bit, hoping to ensure that the lot would indeed be heading to Vinalhaven.

Last night the auction ended, and this morning I got the confirmation email. I had indeed won. And, the additional higher bid wasn’t necessary, the lot ended at a whopping $27.50 and with a 10% auctioneer’s fee, just over 30 bucks.

The 8 dollar buy it now lot arrived yesterday, and I was quite pleased that the Napier Hollweg had a nice sharp helix. The images from the auction didn’t show the tip, and at such a smokin’ deal, I didn’t take the time to inquire about the condition of the piece.

Marked PAT APPLIED FOR on the end hanging ring, and NAPIER STERLING on one of the hinges, it is pretty darn cool.

Yesterday, I was working on final numbers for the upcoming ICCA and CCCC meetings, in anticipation of sending out invitations and registration forms in the coming week.

And, having crunched the numbers, and having many many conversations with the lovely to ensure that neither of us has missed anything, I decided to take a quick break from contacts, emails, notes, and spreadsheets, and hopped on to eBay for a moment.

And, the timing couldn’t have been better. I clicked my normal search, and what should come up but a lot of three corkscrews, with a Buy it Now or Best Offer option.

At first glance, I thought;

“Is that a Napier Sterling Hollweg in the picture?”

“I am pretty sure that is a Napier Sterling Hollweg in the picture.”

I was about to zoom in on the picture to get a better look, and then thought to myself,

“Why am I not simply clicking the buy it now button, it is only 8 dollars!”

Knowing that anyone else that saw this lot, would be jumping on it quickly, I did just that.

Mr. Fred Coates, chemist and druggist, New Barford, Nottingham, has registered a useful and portable little Cork Extractor, which instantly and perfectly removes corks from bottles and bungs from jars.

Chemists will appreciate it when they have to extra a cork cut off close to the bottle, dispensers will find it indispensable, and it is certainly about the handiest little tool for these purposes one can possibly possess. The extractors are stocked by all druggists’ sundriesmen, and are retailed at 9d. and 6d. each, according as they are plated or not.